Ranked ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE PROFESSOR of Theatrical Media Production & Immersive Performance / UMKC CONSERVATORY

UNIVERSITY of MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY

UMKC Conservatory

Theatre Division

Integrated Arts Faculty Cluster Hire:

Sound, Composition, & Media Production

Assistant Professional Practice Professor of

Theatrical Media Production & Immersive Performance

At the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, we take pride in fostering deep collaboration across the divisions of music, dance, and theatre, and in advancing an integrated arts approach that connects performance, technology, and contemporary creative practice. We intentionally weave together multiple art forms to deepen learning, expand artistic practice, and enrich audience experience. https://conservatory.umkc.edu/

To prepare students for 21st-century careers in the performing arts, the Conservatory is undertaking a strategic faculty cohort hire in Sound, Composition, and Media Production. This cohort consists of three complementary faculty positions across divisions-each with a distinct disciplinary home, yet united by a shared commitment to collaboration, applied creativity, and performance-centered pedagogy.

The Assistant Professional Practice Professor of Theatrical Media Production & Immersive Performance will join this cohort alongside:

• a faculty colleague in Sound Design and Technology (Theatre), and
• a faculty colleague in Composition and Media Scoring (Music)

Together, the cohort will function as a collaborative hub that integrates sound, music, media, and technology into live and immersive performance, emphasizing production practice, execution, and real-world workflows.

The UMKC Conservatory invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure-track Assistant Professional Practice Professor of Theatrical Media Production & Immersive Performance, beginning Fall 2026. This position is housed in the Theatre Division and is designed for a highly engaged artist-practitioner whose work bridges teaching, production, and service.

The position carries an anticipated workload of approximately 40% teaching and 60% service, with service defined broadly to include production engagement, student mentorship, program support, recruitment, and collaborative initiatives essential to a conservatory-based training model.

This role is intended for a theatre-based media practitioner whose artistic practice is grounded in live, narrative, and text-based performance, and who both designs and executes media elements within production environments. Digital, interactive, and immersive technologies are understood as production tools in service of theatrical storytelling, rehearsal processes, and audience experience. https://conservatory.umkc.edu/areas-of-study/theatre.html

Primary Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate coursework in theatrical media production and immersive performance practices.
• Teach introductory undergraduate design and production courses within the Theatre curriculum.
• Mentor and advise students in hands-on production work, including integration of media into live performance.
• Design, implement, and supervise media and projection elements for Conservatory productions, both their own work and alongside students.
• Serve as an active member of the Theatre Production Team, contributing to planning, execution, and production meetings.
• Collaborate closely with cohort faculty in Sound Design and Composition to create integrated learning and production experiences.
• Support recruitment, auditions, season planning, and program initiatives aligned with the Theatre Division's mission.
• Maintain an active professional practice in theatrical media production and immersive performance.

• MFA or terminal degree in Theatre Design, Media Production, Projection Design, or a closely related field, or equivalent professional experience in theatrical media production.
• Demonstrated professional experience designing and executing media for live performance, including cabling, networking, programming, and rigging of required equipment.
• Evidence of effective teaching, mentorship, or training in theatre production contexts.
• Strong collaborative skills and the ability to work within fast-paced, production-driven environments.

Rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications, experience and evidence of success in externally funded research. This is a 9-month, non-tenure-track, benefit-eligible, full-time (1.0) faculty appointment eligible for ranked promotion.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. Our academic workloads and schedules promote a positive work/life balance.

For consideration, you must apply online at https://info.umkc.edu/hr/careers/academic-positions/ click in Academic Positions, Job Opening ID 58709.

Please combine all application materials (personal letter of interest and applicable experience with accompanying curriculum vitae, and a current list of professional references) into one PDF or Microsoft Word document and upload as your resume attachments. Limit document name to 50 characters and do not include any special characters (e.g., /, &, %, etc.). Maximum size limit is 11MB.

• If you are experiencing technical problems during application, please email umpshrsupport@umsystem.edu .
• For questions about the position, please contact umkcfacultysearch@umkc.edu including the Job Identification number 58709 and name of the position.
• Reasonable accommodations may be requested during the application and recruitment process. If you need an accommodation, please contact the Office of Equity and Title IX at (816) 235-1323.

Higher education transcripts will be required for candidates advancing as finalists. Candidates will receive prior notification if references will be contacted. A Criminal Background Check is required prior to hire.

Application review will begin on March 17. Applications will be accepted until a qualified candidate is hired.

After initial review by the committee all uploaded materials may be shared with all faculty in the prospective home department. For affiliations and joint appointments materials may be shared with all faculty in all departments involved.

UMKC is a public, urban, research university with more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. It is part of the larger University of Missouri System of four campuses. UMKC is the designated Arts Campus for the UM System. Our university is committed to being a model urban university that is recognized for our partnerships with surrounding urban communities to effectively foster a healthy, safe, and more economically secure quality of life.

We are proud to be Kansas City's university! https://www.umkc.edu/

A City on the Rise: Big City Life and Midwest Charm, Kansas City offers the best of both worlds - a vibrant, urban community with midwestern appeal and an affordable cost of living. Our UMKC campuses are centered in the hubs of cultural arts, business activity, (some great barbeque and ethnic cuisine!), trendy neighborhoods, and health science research engagement for both KC campuses. As one of the largest cities in Missouri, we are home to the internationally acclaimed Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, a rich history of jazz, cultural arts-performance-music venues, a new international airport, national championship sports teams, NASCAR racing, and a community that is very engaged with and supportive of our university initiatives. Our beautiful state has rolling hills, rivers, lakes, and long bike/hiking trails all within a short drive for those that enjoy time in the great outdoors. Kansas City offers something for everyone! https://www.visitkc.com/

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.